# Mike Roach

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{{Short description|American baseball player (1869–1916)}}
{{Other uses|Michael Roach (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Mike Roach
|position=[Catcher](/source/Catcher)
|image=Mike Roach.jpeg
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1869|12|23|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[Driftwood, Pennsylvania](/source/Driftwood%2C_Pennsylvania), US
|death_date={{death date and age|1916|11|12|1869|12|23}}
|death_place=[New York City](/source/New_York_City), US
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=August 10
|debutyear={{Baseball year|1899}}
|debutteam=[Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1891%E2%80%9399))
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 12
|finalyear={{Baseball year|1899}}
|finalteam=[Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1891%E2%80%9399))
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[Batting average](/source/Batting_average_(baseball))
|stat1value=.218
|stat2label=[Home runs](/source/Home_runs)
|stat2value=0
|stat3label=[Runs batted in](/source/Runs_batted_in)
|stat3value=7
|teams=
*[Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1891%E2%80%9399)) ({{Baseball year|1899}})
}}
'''Michael Stephen Roach''' (December 23, 1869 – November 12, 1916) was an American professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [player](/source/catcher) who caught for the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1891%E2%80%9399)) in {{Baseball year|1899}}.

==Biography==
Born in [Driftwood, Pennsylvania](/source/Driftwood%2C_Pennsylvania), Roach was the son of William and Bridget Roach.<ref>''United States Census (Year: 1870; Census Place: Gibson, Cameron, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1319; Page: 490A; Image: 13; Family History Library Film: 552818.)''</ref> Roach's brother, [John Roach](/source/John_Roach_(baseball)), pitched one game for the [New York Giants](/source/New_York_Giants_(NL)) in 1887.<ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/Proacm102.htm Retrosheet]</ref>

Roach played in the [minor leagues](/source/Minor_League_Baseball) for 17 seasons.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=roach-001mik Baseball-Reference (Minors)]</ref> He made his professional baseball debut in {{baseball year|1892}}, and played for the [Macon Central City](/source/Macon_Central_City) and the [Reading Actives](/source/Reading_Actives) that year. In 1893, he was one of the founders of the semi-professional [Susquehanna] River League made up of teams from Williamsport, Tyrone, Bellefonte, Lock Haven, Bloomsburg and Renovo.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1893-06-21|title=Clipped From Tyrone Daily Herald|pages=4|work=Tyrone Daily Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95537616/tyrone-daily-herald/|access-date=2022-02-19}}</ref> Roach was the catcher/manager of the Renovo team and led them to the championship in the league's only year of existence.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1893-10-25|title=Clipped From Tyrone Daily Herald|pages=4|work=Tyrone Daily Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95543017/tyrone-daily-herald/|access-date=2022-02-19}}</ref>

In 1894, he returned to the professional ranks by signing with the [Pawtucket Maroons](/source/Pawtucket_Maroons) of the Class B [New England League](/source/New_England_League). The following year, Roach moved up the [Toledo Swamp Angels](/source/Toledo_Swamp_Angels)/[Terre Haute Hottentots](/source/Terre_Haute_Hottentots) of the [Class A Western League](/source/Western_League_(original)).  (The Toledo club moved to Terre Haute, Indiana in mid-season.) Roach was given credit for having a .341 [batting average](/source/batting_average_(baseball)) in 107 games for 1895. (That is highly suspect as Roach was normally a .250 hitter.)<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 Dec 1895|title=Are Official, Averages of the Western League for 1895|url=https://paperofrecord.hypernet.ca/paper_view.asp?PaperId=834&RecordId=2&PageId=7778050&iDateSearchId={D4FCDF00-6794-4F71-91B3-4C02062EAD50}|access-date=21 Feb 2022|website=The Sporting News}}</ref>

He played with the [Bangor Millionaires](/source/Bangor_Millionaires) of the Class B [New England League](/source/New_England_League) in {{baseball year|1896}} and the [Class B Atlantic League](/source/Atlantic_League_(1896%E2%80%931900)) Hartford Connecticut club in {{baseball year|1897}} and 1898. He replaced the manager of the Hartford club in mid-season 1898 after the manager left the team.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1898-07-25|title=Clipped From Hartford Courant|pages=7|work=Hartford Courant|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95985680/hartford-courant/|access-date=2022-02-21}}</ref>

Roach was a member of the [Newark club](/source/Newark_Colts) of the now Class A Atlantic League in {{baseball year|1899}}.  When the Atlantic League folded in August, Roach was acquired by the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1891%E2%80%9399)) of the [National League](/source/National_League_(baseball)). In 24 games for Washington, Roach hit .218, collecting 17 [hits](/source/hit_(baseball)) in 78 [at bat](/source/at_bat)s.  He performed capably behind the plate with a .952 fielding percentage.  After the 1899 season, the National League contracted from 12 teams to eight, dropping Louisville, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Washington. This left Roach without a team. On March 5, 1900, Roach’s contract was sold to the Toronto Canucks of the Class A Eastern League. He would never play in the [Major Leagues again.](/source/Major_League_Baseball)

In {{baseball year|1901}}, Roach was traded to the [Class A Eastern League Syracuse club, which due to poor attendance, was moved to Brockton, Massachusetts in mid-season.](/source/Syracuse_Stars_(minor_league_baseball))  In 1902, he signed to play for the Los Angeles Looloos, of the [independent California League](/source/California_League).<ref>{{Cite news|date=1902-02-24|title=Clipped From The Los Angeles Times|pages=9|work=The Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63685282/the-los-angeles-times/|access-date=2022-02-20}}</ref>  In 1903, he returned East and played for the Columbus Senators of the Class A American Association.  Over the winter he was traded to the Minneapolis Millers, also of the American Association.  However he never played for them as he was injured during the spring and was released.

From {{baseball year|1904}} to {{baseball year|1909}} he played and managed in the Class B [New York State League](/source/New_York_State_League_(1885%E2%80%931917)).  First with the [Ilion (New York) Typewriters](/source/Ilion_Typewriters).  In 1905, the Ilion team was transferred to [Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania](/source/Wilkes-Barre_Barons_(baseball)).<ref>{{Cite news|date=1905-04-19|title=Clipped From Wilkes-Barre Times|pages=3|work=Wilkes-Barre Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95737353/wilkes-barre-times/|access-date=2022-02-20}}</ref> Roach was a fan favorite in Wilkes-Barre.  However, the Wilkes-Barre management decided not to resign him for the following year and Roach joined the [Binghamton Bingos](/source/Binghamton_Bingoes).<ref>{{Cite news|date=1905-12-26|title=Clipped From Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News|pages=9|work=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95728963/wilkes-barre-times-leader-the-evening/|access-date=2022-02-20}}</ref>

From 1906 through 1909, Roach remained with the Binghamton club. In 1908 he became part-owner.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1907-10-02|title=Clipped From Press and Sun-Bulletin|pages=4|work=Press and Sun-Bulletin|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74581867/press-and-sun-bulletin/|access-date=2022-02-21}}</ref> During his two years of ownership, he was the business manager and a player-manager.  A picture from the April 29, 1908, Binghamton Press, captioned "The Playing-Manager of the Bingo's" shows him with a glove on his left hand, proving that he threw right-handed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=29 Apr 1908, Page 8 - Press and Sun-Bulletin at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/252692421/?terms=roach&match=1|access-date=2022-02-22|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}}</ref> After the 1909 season, Roach sold his ownership interest and at the age of 39, retired from playing professional baseball.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1910-01-25|title=Clipped From Press and Sun-Bulletin|pages=4|work=Press and Sun-Bulletin|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95908359/press-and-sun-bulletin/|access-date=2022-02-21}}</ref>

After his playing days, he became a hotel proprietor in Binghamton, first running the McDonald Hotel and later the Cadillac Hotel. The McDonald Hotel was located at the corner of Lewis and Fayette Streets. It later was renamed the Hotel Chapman, then the Hotel Gregory. It was demolished in 1966 for urban renewal. Ironically, in 1992 Binghamton built a new baseball stadium near the location of the Hotel McDonald.  The Cadillac Hotel located at 9 Main Street, still stands and (in 2022) is known as Fitzie's Pub.

On June 18,1912, Roach married Rosemary Manalis (McNelis) in Wilkes-Barre.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1912-06-19|title=Clipped From Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News|pages=13|work=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95721952/wilkes-barre-times-leader-the-evening/|access-date=2022-02-20}}</ref> They had two children, Louis and Rosemary.

On November 12, 1916, after a short illness, at the age of 46, Roach died at the home of his brother, Dr. Charles Roach, in [New York City](/source/New_York_City). He was buried in Drury Run Cemetery in [Renovo, Pennsylvania](/source/Renovo%2C_Pennsylvania).<ref>{{Cite news|date=1916-11-13|title=Obituary for Michael 8 . Roach|pages=12|work=Press and Sun-Bulletin|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95726115/obituary-for-michael-8-roach/|access-date=2022-02-20}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats | br=r/roachmi01 | fangraphs= |brm=roach-001mik}}
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/mike-roach/#_ednref19 SABR biography]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roach, Mike}}
Category:1869 births
Category:1916 deaths
Category:Major League Baseball catchers
Category:Washington Senators (1891–1899) players
Category:Baseball players from New York City
Category:19th-century baseball players
Category:19th-century American sportsmen
Category:Macon Central City players
Category:Reading Actives players
Category:Pawtucket Maroons players
Category:Toledo Swamp Angels players
Category:Terre Haute Hottentots players
Category:Bangor Millionaires players
Category:Hartford Bluebirds players
Category:Hartford Cooperatives players
Category:Newark Colts players
Category:Toronto Canucks players
Category:Syracuse Stars (minor league baseball) players
Category:Los Angeles (minor league baseball) players
Category:Columbus Senators players
Category:Ilion Typewriters players
Category:Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball) players
Category:Binghamton Bingoes players
Category:People from Driftwood, Pennsylvania
Category:Baseball players from Pennsylvania

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mike Roach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Roach) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Roach?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.